Displaying items by tag: United Kingdom

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has sent texts to nearly two thousand individuals whose phone numbers were discovered during drug raids. These texts contain advice on substance misuse and aim to address the growing demand for illicit drugs in Northern Ireland. Drug seizures and drug-related arrests have both increased by 10% this year. The PSNI's recent focus has been on the supply of Class A and Class B drugs through social media apps and groups. This trend has transformed the drugs market in Northern Ireland over the past few years. Paramilitary groups are working closely with organised crime groups to import and distribute drugs: about sixty criminal gangs currently operate in the region. The PSNI is working with national and international law enforcement partners to target suppliers and supply lines. It is also collaborating with Border Force to prevent drug smuggling through Northern Ireland's ports.

The Boys' Brigade, founded in Glasgow in 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith, marks its 140th anniversary as the world's first uniformed youth organisation. With a presence in sixty countries and over half a million members, it has remained committed to instilling Christian values in young lives. Regular gatherings involve Bible studies, prayer sessions, church services, and recreational pursuits. The late Queen Elizabeth II was their patron, a testament to the organisation's royal support. In honour of this milestone, the Boys' Brigade will plant an oak tree to commemorate its founder's legacy in a Heroes of the Faith woodland near Birmingham. This gesture symbolises the growth and steadfastness of the organisation over the years.

Rishi Sunak has faced sharp criticism for cancelling the northern leg of HS2, but he refuses to apologise. The PM defended the decision, stating that the cost had doubled, and he believes the new plan will benefit more people and places. He emphasised that the £36 billion saved from this project would be reinvested in various forms of transportation and across the country. While some expressed concerns about the impact on investors and the stop-start approach to infrastructure projects, Sunak disagreed and believed that it wouldn't deter investments. In his speech, Sunak positioned himself as a leader of change despite his party's long tenure in power. His decision to cancel the northern leg of HS2 has met with mixed reactions, with some northern leaders feeling left out of the process and others questioning the funding and strategic planning of alternative transport schemes.

Rishi Sunak has unveiled a plan to increase the legal smoking age by one year every year, describing it as the ‘most significant public health intervention in a generation’. This initiative has the potential to substantially reduce smoking among young people by as early as 2040. Sunak emphasised the critical importance of addressing smoking, stating that it is the leading preventable cause of death, disability, and illness in society. He argued that there is ‘no safe level of smoking’ and defended the move against concerns about individual choice. The Government anticipates that these measures could result in up to 1.7 million fewer people smoking by 2075. Sunak stressed the need to prevent teenagers from taking up smoking, as the majority of smokers start before the age of 20. In addition to cracking down on smoking, the Government also plans to examine and regulate the availability and marketing of vaping products, especially to children. The goal is to reduce the attractiveness of vaping to young people while providing an alternative to smoking for current smokers.

The UK has experienced its joint-warmest September since record-keeping began nearly 150 years ago. The record-breaking month was characterised by an exceptionally warm first half, featuring the year's hottest day and seven consecutive days with temperatures above 30°C in parts of the UK, an unprecedented occurrence for September. Scientists attribute this heatwave primarily to climate change, though natural factors like El Niño and ocean circulation changes have also played a role. The rise in greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, is a major contributor to this record-breaking heat. As we confront these alarming climate trends, the need for urgent ambitious climate action becomes even more critical. With global climate talks (COP28) scheduled for December, the necessity of addressing climate change's devastating effects is paramount. This record-breaking heat serves as a stark reminder that climate change is a global crisis that demands immediate attention and action.

According to a damning report by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), homes in England and Wales are the lowest quality yet among the most expensive, in the developed world. The UK’s housing market is ‘reaching a state of crisis’ as the country falls even further behind other developed nations in terms of condition, affordability, and age of its housing stock. England’s homes are of poorer quality than those in eastern European nations such as Lithuania, with fewer new homes than Bulgaria. UK residents spend “exceptionally high proportions” of their post-tax income on housing. Alongside this, In September, the UK witnessed a significant decline in new home construction, leading to the largest drop in construction activity since May 2020. Overall, the construction sector is experiencing difficulties, but there are signs of resilience and potential for improvement in the near future. For further information, see

When Metro Bank was launched in 2010,it was the first new high street bank in 150 years. Now, there are concerns about its future. The bank, which has around 2.7 million customers, is reportedly in discussions with investors about securing £250 million in equity funding and refinancing £350 million in debt to strengthen its balance sheet. The issue is that it is operating at the edges of its capital requirements, meaning the amount of assets held by the bank that can be sold off at short notice if it faces unexpected losses. This move has rattled investors, causing the bank's share prices to plummet by over 25%. Despite these challenges, the bank stated that customer deposits are secure, and there is no indication of imminent collapse. In any case, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) ensures that customers' funds would be returned within seven working days in the event of the bank's dissolution. While the bank has faced difficulties in the past, it hopes to secure the necessary funding to navigate its current financial situation and continue serving its customers.

After a recent landmark legal ruling, taxpayers in Northern Ireland may be facing additional expenses to cover holiday pay for public sector workers. The Supreme Court ruled that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) must compensate its officers and civilian employees with approximately £30 million due to inaccuracies in holiday pay calculations. The ruling determined that holiday pay should reflect an employee's normal pay, including overtime and other additional payments beyond basic salary.The case originated from a 2018 industrial tribunal ruling in favour of a group representing over 3,700 PSNI officers and civilian staff, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2019. Similar cases are expected in both the public and private sectors. As a result, there may be an increase in holiday pay claims as businesses are compelled to address past or ongoing miscalculations. Public employers, who may lack substantial cash reserves, could face difficulties meeting these liabilities. The PSNI is currently considering how to cover these costs while ensuring fair compensation for its officers.

Badminton England recently launched a strategy aimed at making the game the most inclusive and accessible in the country. As part of the plan, it intends to open up 200 new spaces for playing badminton, including faith spaces like church halls. Lisa Elliott, a former professional badminton player now affiliated with Christians in Sport (CIS), commended the strategy while cautioning against pressuring players to attend church events. She suggested that this initiative could be a wonderful chance for churches to foster friendships, build relationships, and pray, with the hope that it may lead to meaningful connections in the future.  Christians in Sport, an organisation that assists athletes in living out and sharing their faith, collaborates with sportspeople like Elliott to integrate their beliefs with their sporting endeavours.

A family has been allowed to name their late 19-year-old daughter, Sudiksha Thirumalesh, after being denied the opportunity to seek specialist treatment abroad due to restrictive reporting regulations. Sudiksha, who suffered from a rare genetic mitochondrial disease, was engaged in a legal battle with the NHS for over six months to seek experimental treatment that could potentially have saved her life. Although she was fully conscious and able to communicate, a court order prevented her and her family from raising funds to travel to Canada for a clinical trial. Sudiksha's situation gained significant media attention, especially after her tragic death. The family, who are committed Christians, have expressed their distress at the treatment they received from the hospital trust and the courts. They felt silenced, intimidated, and prevented from accessing potential life-saving treatment for Sudiksha. Now they hope to seek justice for her and raise awareness of how critical care decisions are made in the NHS and the courts. There are calls for a more transparent and open system to prevent similar ordeals for other patients and families.